The centenary celebrations round this yr’s 24 Hours of Le Mans offered the proper excuse for the June/July subject of Classic Motorsport to not solely preview the upcoming Le Mans Basic, but in addition dive into the historical past books.
There aren’t many extra well-known outcomes than A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney’s 1967 win of their Shelby American-run Ford GT40 MkIV, and getting enter from A.J. himself was a chance to not be missed. As you’d count on, Tremendous Tex’s recollections of a whirlwind week in France and that all-American triumph are humorous, poignant and engaging.
However it’s additionally fascinating to unearth the tales behind the much less well-known tales. Assume French wins at Le Mans, and also you would possibly soar again to Matra’s well-known three consecutive triumphs within the early ’70s, Jean Rondeau’s success in his eponymous M379 in 1980, or Peugeot’s victories within the early ’90s and its one-off interruption of the Audi leviathan on this century. Against this, Renault Alpine’s success in 1978 is commonly missed, regardless of outpacing and outlasting Porsche’s manufacturing facility fleet. Learn the way it unfolded, and what occurred subsequent as Renault switched its focus to Method 1.
Talking of underappreciation, Geoff Brabham’s superb IMSA success with Nissan has tended to dwarf his achievements in Can-Am, Indy automobiles and at Le Mans, so it’s a pleasure to redress that steadiness and shine a lightweight on his versatility, together with that 1993 win at La Sarthe with Peugeot.
There’s a French connection, too, in our Jackie Stewart story. As we strategy the fiftieth anniversary of JYS clinching his third Method 1 World Championship in 1973 after which retiring from racing, we flipped again to the beginning of his and Ken Tyrrell’s first work collectively in F1 in 1968 and ’69, counting on Matra because the chassis constructor, and forming a short, however massively profitable triumvirate.
Elsewhere, we look forward to the 2023 Le Mans Basic, try HSR’s inaugural Basic 6 Hours of the Glen, go to the Petersen Museum’s 75 Years of Porsche exhibit, and go Historic Trans Am racing with NASCAR on Fox play-by-play primary man Mike Pleasure.
The June/July subject of Classic Motorsport is now mailing to subscribers and already obtainable to learn in digital format, HERE. We hope you get pleasure from it. And if you happen to’re not a subscriber, you may go to VintageMotorsport.com/Subscribe or name (877) 425-4103. Single copies will be bought at our on-line retailer HERE. Classic Motorsport journal can be obtainable at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide.
